2.5D "Space-scape"

[Zealous Fenix]

Well, this is my first time here at ConceptArt.org, and while I was definately sure that this probably isn't of the caliber to be put in the "IT'S FINALLY FINISHED!!" section, I wasn't sure if it would be okay to put something like this here since it isn't a drawing/painting like most of the other works. Yet since it isn't really a 3D rendering or photo here I thought it would be most appropriate...anyway...



Here's my pride and joy, for now at least. I utilized my entire arsenal of Photoshop knowledge, which I admit is not too expansive, to create this scene of a sun blowing up in a solar system "inhabited" by a gas giant, two of the aforementioned celestial body's moons, and two other smaller planets that might as well be moons too.

Comments and critiques are welcome.

And yes, I realize that the side of the rings closest to the viewer should not have that bright spot, the rings in the corner should not be illuminated, the comet looks funky, and the nebula on top is way too bright in certain spots. Of course, despite these flaws I like it anyway so...

[bounchfx]

I think it looks great, you pretty much covered most of the things people were going to probably say about it, but besides those.. uh.. the white border around the picture doesnt do it justice..

the only other thing that feels weird for me, not even really bothers me, but all the planets are on the same side, our side, of the sun. every close star besides that comet in the background seems to be in a different galaxy.. maybe put one on the other side?

great work though

[propsculptor]

I like it a lot, this should be made into a Poster or Lithograph!

[Zealous Fenix]

I appreciate the responses. I'm currently working to rectify the problems I saw in the work, but a few things leave me baffled.

First off, I entirely agree that the white border doesn't really contribute anything to the piece, yet when I originally developed carpal tunnel syndrome creating this I didn't think a plain black border looked right, especially since I want to emphasize light, intensity, etc. Perhaps if the black border were to be changed to a white border it would do a better job...but that is to be decided once I tweak this yet again.

bounchfx: I guess during my endeavor I was so caught up on what was up close and personal that I neglected the background. I admit I am still unsure how to approach the problem though, since I'm thinking that the planets in the background would simply be white spheres due to the reflective nature of atmospheric gases - which, while weak, would still direct massive amounts of light toward the viewer since a supernova does generate "a lot" of energy.

propsculptor: Thank you. Unfortunately though, I find that I can always find some way to improve upon anything I do and so I do not know if I would ever feel my stuff is worthy of such treatment...lol. Besides, I'll admit that I am clueless in such matters.

[Datameister]

I like this piece, although the use of the Clouds filter is bothering me a little. It has its uses, but it's a good rule of thumb to always make heavy alterations to the results. In other words, the fact that you've used the filter shouldn't be obvious from the image.

Also, the shadowed sides of the moons seem to be too small. Keep in mind that the terminator (daytime-nighttime border) will always be a great circle, meaning that it encircles the widest part of the sphere. Even with a really bright light source like an explosion.

Keep up the good work!

[darkchild]

I like it, I'm not too experienced in digital art to make serious crit. That comet just looks a bit out of place to me. Seems like too much going on.. the suns blowing up and there's a comet in flying into the pic. I don't know... I think your did an amazing job with the colors. I agree with Prosculptor, defiinitely should be a poster!

[TechLoveAffair]

Hey man, looks really good(I've always been envious of these space pics), but the scene as it is now isn't really feasable at all.

The sun doesn't look like it's exploding, it just looks really bright. Here's a photo of a real star explosion:
http://www.rundetaarn.dk/dansk/obser...rafik/etac.jpg

And one of a supernova, that would take place after that:
http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/...fs/rosat06.gif

The explosion should be much more violent and much less uniform than what you have; the sun just collapsed on itself and it's not creating the same amount of light anymore. By the time the light from the explosion reaches the viewer's eye most of the gas giant and its surrounding rings/moons/planets would have been swept away by a massive shockwave of radioactive particles and intense heat energy anyway. Kind of like taking a cosmic shotgun blast to the face. So, all we'd see is the explosion, or the explosion surrounded by some dust. After the dust settled though, the remaining matter of supernova'd stars can turn into a Pulsar(Neutron Star) or Black Hole, if it doesn't just start clumping together into an Interstellar Medium(a pretty dust could) and eventually birth another sun. You could make one of those things and it would look pretty cool, IMO, but this as is it now isn't possible.

You could also make a White Dwarf, which is the end result of a star dissapating into a Planetary Nebula and then condensing into a much denser star. Or a Blue Drawf, a dead star.

Sorry to ream your pic, and I hope I don't sound like a snooty know-it-all, but it bugs me to see things like this. And it's Crit Week

Good luck!

[NikitaDarkstar]

TechLoveAffair jsut remember one thing, that first picture is recolored (most of the pics you find in astronomy books and even on nasa's (atleast the public space ones.) website are) and the second one looks very much like a computer generated pic from a radio observatory. I agree on your other points though, but be carefull with astronomy ref pics as ALOT of them aren't true to life in color.

Anyway I like it alot, but the black on the planets and moons feels mroe like it's a hole into the planet and not hte planet surface you know? Also it feels to me as if something expolded on the surface of the star and it's not the actual star in itself exploding.
Also the text at the bottom could use abit more work in my opinon.
Anyway I think I've come off far to negative ehre, I really do like it alot, it just needs some tweaking, but great work so far!

[TechLoveAffair]

Good point NikitaDarkStar, that second one isn't a photo at all

Here's a real telescope photo of a distant Supernova:

http://www.pd.astro.it/asiago/2000/2500bis/sn02bo_4.jpg

[Zealous Fenix]

Thanks for all the commments and critiques.

Datameister: I'll definately keep the comment about the filters in mind for the next one. It makes a lot of sense, and the clouds generated didn't really look too much like nebula anyway. The shadowed parts of the moons weren't intended to be small, but I guess it turned out that way since I was trying to make it seem as if the planets were at different angles from the sun. I'll figure out how to fix it somehow.

darkchild: Thanks for the support. I agree too that the comet is out of place, it probably ends up detracting from the image.

TechLoveAffair: I guess that's what happens when I don't bother to look at reference images first. Probably should just change the title to "Really Bright Sun" or something...lol.

NikitaDarkstar: I see what you mean about the dark spots, but I was trying to emphasize the intensity of the light from the sun in comparison to the other stars lightyears further from the planets. I'll definately keep the point in mind though. Also, I'm not quite sure how to fix the text on the bottom, so do you think you can enlighten me?

I wouldn't worry about coming off too negative when tearing apart the image. The critiques were civil and very informative, and even if they weren't...I should be taking criticism like a man if I want to improve.

[NikitaDarkstar]

Well right now it feels like the text is abit to big for the space given to it so in my opinion either downsize the text or give it abit more space height wise (maybe jsut about 5-7 px more black above the text so it gets abit further below? I don't know exactly honestly). Also the font is abit boring, something abit more interesting (but still ofcourse professional looking) migth help it abit. (dafont.com has some quite good fon't for free if you only got windows standard).. well thats jsut my personal opinions ofcourse, do as you wish with them. =)

[TechLoveAffair]

Thought I'd pop in with a few more space pics. Bitchin finds IMO:

http://sci.esa.int/science-e-media/img/07/6550.JPG
http://www.spacetelescope.org/images.../heic0407a.jpg
http://www.newhopechurch.ca/glog/ima...1_original.jpg

[Vasper157]

I've been doin spacescape for a year or 2 now so hopfully I This helps.

1st. With the amout of light being cast. The only planet I think should cast such a dark shadow would be the largest one.

2nd. IMO the composition is slightly off. The piece would feel a bit more balanced with the laerger planet more centered. filling in that empty spot.

3rd. The piece as a whole is way too fuzzy. For instance, the haze on the planets. At that temp. the atmosphere would be completely or most of the way burned off. That would leave a hard line on one side with the haze opposite the blast.

Also with a blast that powerful, that gas and dust would have much more texture and motion. (being blasted away) as it is now, it seems calm while everything around it is being destroyed.

Below are some example of my work. Try studying more about the effects of light on single object in a 3d space.

Keep at it m8, you are well on your way. Just harden up the lines and textures a bit